Conference on meat inspection Animal health and welfare monitoring as integrated part of meat inspection Alberto Laddomada Head of Unit SANCO D1 Animal Health and Standing Committees
Prevention is better than cure Better biosecurity in holdings Surveillance (active and passive): In holdings Before and during transport At place of destination (slaughterhouse!) Any other place and/or source
Evolution of surveillance in EU Originally: limited EU provisions on surveillance (focus on trade and fight against diseases) From mid-90 s: more detailed compulsory surveillance (BSE, zoonoses, avian influenza, bluetongue, etc.) In future: a comprehensive, risk-based surveillance system Modern approach: how to do best?
Importance of meat inspection for animal health Ante and post mortem inspection are cornerstones for animal disease surveillance Slaughterhouse is a focal point where animal diseases can be detected Confirms and supplements data from other sources Beyond decision on meat: a public good function
Example 1: Meat inspection and Tuberculosis (TB) detection Purpose: Granting free status of herds, regions, MSs rely on surveillance in abattoir to identify TB lesions Legislation: Annex A.I. of Directive 64/432/EEC on intra- EU trade of bovine animals, on granting status OIE Code chapter on TB
TB inspection contd. Rationale TB is an asymptomatic disease in cattle and a serious zoonosis Diagnostic tests in farm lack sensitivity (~ 70-75%) Anergic reactors go undetected at the tuberculin test Raw milk from infected animals is a threat for public health unless coming from free herds or is heat treated Science: EFSA opinion on palpation/visual inspection in calves recommends keeping the most stringent procedures for TB inspection and slaughterhouse is the best place for detection
Example 2: foot and mouth disease (FMD) in UK in 2001 Ante-mortem inspection in South-East England on pigs from North-East England By a person who never saw FMD Decisive elements: Professional qualification as a vet Curriculum of study including exotic diseases Personal quality and awareness (maintanence of corporate memory about now exotic diseases)
FMD contd. Emergency situation in all UK Limiting damages: Speed of detection: role of highly trained individuals at key places Speed of confirmation Immediate handling of situation: In the slaughterhouse
Importance of the meat inspection in international trade EU export toward third countries Import of products of animal origin from third countries into the EU The respect of international standards in meat inspection: facilitates international trade grants the health requirements are respected
O.I.E. Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Chapter 1.4. Animal health surveillance Article 1.4.5. Structured non-random surveillance D) Ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections Inspections of animals at slaughterhouses provide valuable surveillance data. The sensitivity and specificity of slaughterhouse inspection for detecting the presence of specified diseases under the inspection system in place should be pre-determined.
O.I.E. Code, Chapter 6.2. Control of biological hazards of animal health and public health importance through ante- and post-mortem meat inspection Inspection of animals at slaughter can provide a valuable contribution to surveillance for certain diseases of animal and public health importance. Control and/or reduction of biological hazards of animal and public health importance by ante- and post-mortem meat inspection are a core responsibility of Veterinary Services.
Import: since 1972 Article 17 of 72/462/EEC 1. The Member States shall not authorize importation of fresh meat in the form of carcases, including halfcarcases in the case of swine, and halves or quarters in the case of bovine animals and solipeds, unless it it possible to reconstruct the entire carcase of each animal. 2. Such importation shall be subject to the following conditions: the fresh meat must (a) have been obtained in a slaughterhouse included on the list established inaccordance with Article 4 (1); (b) come from a slaughter animal inspected ante mortem by an official veterinarian in accordance with Annex 1, Chapter VI, of Directive 64/433/EEC and passed fit, as a result of such inspection for slaughter for the purposes of export to the Community.
Import now Similar provisions in current import certificates (e.g. Reg (EC) 206/2010) Ante mortem inspection shown no evidence of diseases
Animal Health conclusions Prevention is better than cure Ramifications for imports Professional qualifications are key Meat inspection as part of a system Cost-benefit must be considered
New EU legislation on the protection of animals at the time of killing Council Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing (OJ L 303,18.11.2009, p. 1) Entry into application 1 Jan 2013
In line with the hygiene package Operators to take ownership of animal welfare Standard Operating Procedures Monitoring the effect of stunning on animals Determining key paramaters of stunning
Towards better knowledge Competence of staff General obligation Certificate of competence For staff in slaughterhouses For fur farmers Stunning and restraining equipments Instruction of use and maintenance Method for monitoring stunning efficiency on animals
More flexibility List of approved stunning/killing methods More precise definition and requirements Possibly updated through comitology
An integrated approach (1) Standards on construction, layout and equipment integrated in the approval process Animal Welfare Officer Monitoring procedure for stunning with animal based indicators
An integrated approach (2) New approach in line with the Hygiene Package Flexible on the means Prescriptive on the method Policy focused on developing learning mechanisms Certificate of competence and scientific support
Conclusions My title was: animal health and welfare monitoring as integrated part of meat inspection In reality it could also have been: meat inspection as integrated part of animal health and welfare monitoring and surveillance